Page 756 - Environment
SBI to save Rs 30 cr p.a. from wind, solar power investments
Country's largest lender SBI today said it has saved Rs 125 crore in the last eight years by putting up 10 windmills, and expects to save Rs 30 crore annually through its renewable energy investments. The bank has installed 10 windmills having a capacity of 1.5 MW each, including six in Maharashtra, three in Tamil Nadu and one in Gujarat since 2010 and saved over Rs 125 crore in energy costs, an official statement said. It has also invested in solar power and now possesses a capacity of 21.23 MW in renewable power sources, it said, adding that taking it to 25 MW will help it save Rs 30 crore every year. It, however, did not specify the time by which it aims to take up the capacity to 25 MW or any details of the investments on such initiatives. On the eve of the World Earth Day, the bank said it aims to be carbon neutral and also announced that it has set up 151 solar rooftop sites that have a capacity to generate 6.23 MW of power. Energy generated through these renewable
Tourist spots in Valley, Ladakh region declared 'no polythene' zones
The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared tourist destinations and resorts in the Valley and Ladakh region as polythene-free zones, and banned the use of non-biodegradable plastic at its properties, according to an official order. The government aims to achieve sustainable tourism and make tourist destinations in the state eco-friendly with the step. "In order to make Kashmir division, including Leh and Kargil, polythene-free, it is hereby ordered that all tourist units are declared polythene-free zones. The tourist destinations or resorts are also brought under the ambit of no polythene zones," the order issued by Mehmood Shah, Director Tourism, Kashmir, stated. According to the order, use of polythene and disposable plastic at tourist destinations and properties would lead to cancellation of the operator's license. "Any deviation shall be dealt strictly. Persistent violation shall warrant cancellation of registration certificate issued by the tourism department," it said. Asked .
Nanar refinery: Cong delegation demands scrapping of project
A delegation of Maharashtra Congress leaders, which toured Nanar in Ratnagiri where the government plans to set up a mega-refinery, has said that the project should be scrapped as it was harmful to the environment and people were opposed to it. Delegation members, who were at Nanar on April 19-20, said that the refinery project would affect 15 villages in Rajapur taluka and two villages in Devgad taluka. "The homes of 30,000 people, 65 temples and eight mosques, spread across an area of 15,000 hectares, would go because of the project," members of the delegation said. "It will also destroy 13 lakh alphonso mango trees, seven lakh cashew trees as well as eight crore trees in the jungles nearby," MPCC general secretary, Rajan Bhosale, who was the coordinator of the delegation, told PTI. Explaining the loss the project would cause to the livelihoods of local residents, Bhosale said that a single mango tree resulted in an income in the range of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 ...
3 forest guards detained for rape bid
Three forest guards were today detained for allegedly attempting to rape a tribal woman while she was sleeping at a tree-top shelter in Balasore district. Police today said the incident took place at Tenda village under Nilagiri police station area inside Kuldiha Sanctuary yesterday night. The 32-year-old woman in her FIR said she and her 3-year-old daughter were sleeping on the tree-top shelter near her farm land in the village to protect Rabi crop from wild animals. She alleged that she woke up at night to find two forest guards trying to disrobe her with one of them holding her hands and mouth and she fainted. When she regained consciousness, the FIR said, she found two more forest guards below the tree-top shelter and raised an alarm. Hearing her cry, her relatives rushed in captured three forest guards and one managed to flee. Hearing her cry, her relatives rushed in captured three forest guards and one managed to flee, police said adding that the three were ...
Bajra remains weak on low demand
Bajra prices eased further by Rs 5 per quintal at wholesale grains market today owing to slackened demand from consuming industries. However, other grains moved in a narrow range in limited deals and pegged at last levels. Traders said easing demand from consuming industries against ample stocks position weighed on bajra prices. In the national capital, bajra shed Rs 5 to Rs 1,260-1,265 per quintal. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,750-1,755 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,755-1,760, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230-260, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 970-980 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,050 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,400-7,500, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-6,800, Permal raw Rs 2,400-2425, Permal wand Rs 2,500-2,550, Sela Rs 3,100-3,200 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,050-2,100, Bajra .
Elephant kills woman in Odisha
A woman was trampled to death by an elephant at Kauriapal village in Dhenkanal district today, a forest official said. The woman had gone to the forest under sadar forest range area when she was attacked and killed by the pachyderm, Forest Ranger Darsania Bhoi said. The deceased was identified as Satyabhama (60), he said adding that the forest department has provided an amount of Rs 10,000 as immediate assistance to the family of the woman and compensation would be given as per guidelines. Local residents alleged that elephant attacks had been on the rise in the district and sought steps to protect people from the jumbo menace.
Tigress found dead in UP's Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary
A tigress was found dead in the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary here, a forest official said today. The carcass of the tigress was spotted yesterday by some villagers in the Ganeshpur beat, which comes under the sanctuary's Madhwaliya range, Forest Range Officer Imtiyaz Ahmad said. It is not immediately known how the big cat died, he said, adding that the body was sent for post mortem. Officials have been on high alert for the past few days since the recovery of a leopard carcasses last month from the Chuak forest range of the sanctuary.
Mahadayi River dispute: 700 farmers to seek euthanasia
Over 700 farmers protesting over Mahadayi River water dispute will leave for Delhi from Karnataka to meet President Ram Nath Kovind seeking euthanasia.The farmers will leave from Karnataka on April 25. They will also hold a three-day protest in the national capital."We will file a plea and submit it to the President and will even protest there for three-day. Every politician takes benefit of the issue but does nothing on it. If the politicians continue doing the same then the farmers will face a major loss," said a member of farmer association Rait Sena Karnataka.He said that they have even decided to boycott the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls over the issue.Karnataka and neighbouring Goa have conflicting interests on the issue of sharing Mahadayi River water. While the river originates in Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa.Karnataka plans to divert waters from the river to Malaprabha basin in the state.The pro-Kannada organisations and farming communities bodies had ...
Shun plastics, plant more trees, create behavioural changes (April 21 is World Earth Day)
Earth -- our home -- is a truly magnificent place. Around 8.7 million species have lived and evolved on this planet over and across time immemorial. It is a purely vibrant place we inhabit -- and it is in grave danger.
K'taka polls: Change is need of the hour, says Raman Singh
The poll-bound state of Karnataka needs a change in its leadership, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Friday."Yeddyurappa ji is an old friend. This time, he is contesting the election from Shikaripura, and I had gone to attend the rally there, to give my support and wishes. Change is the need of the hour in Karnataka and we hope Congress is defeated this time, and Yeddyurappa ji becomes the chief minister again," Singh told reporters here.On April 19, the day of nomination for the Karnataka polls, BJP's chief ministerial candidate, BS Yeddyurappa took out a huge procession, and was accompanied by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Union Minister Ananth Kumar.Karnataka will go to polls on May 12 to elect its representatives for the 225-member assembly. The results will be out on May 15.The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister was in Rajnandgaon to attend a mass marriage programme of 58 couples. He also extended wishes to the newlyweds.
Maharashtra's toy train stations turn green
The four stations of Central Railway's Matheran Hill Railway in Maharashtra's Raigad district have turned "green" with the installation of solar power and wind energy plants, an official said on Friday.Sunil Udasi, the Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway said in a statement that on the installation of Green Energy System, the generation capacity of each system at four stations - Jummapatti, Waterpipe, and Aman Lodge is 75-80 kWh, while at Matheran, it is 680-690 kWh per month.All these four stations are now provided with a solar power plant of capacity 500-1000 Wp and windmill of capacity 6.1 KWp at Matheran including energy efficient LED lights and fans.The electric supply from the renewable sources will bring down the hill railway station's power bill drastically resulting in savings of Rs. 2.07 lakh per year, besides reducing its carbon footprints.The Matheran Hill Railway is narrow-gauge heritage railway in Maharashtra.A delight to the tourists and the route to the ...
A safer Commonwealth in cyberspace
In a landmark declaration at the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on Friday, the leaders of the 53 countries agreed to work closely to evaluate and strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and response mechanisms, and unanimously agreed to take action on cybersecurity by 2020.A notification from the CHOGM termed the declaration as the world's largest and most geographically diverse inter-governmental commitment on cybersecurity cooperation.This followed an announcement by the United Kingdom government deciding to pledge up to 15 million pounds to help the Commonwealth nations strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.The nations aim to tackle criminal groups and hostile state actors who pose a global threat to security.The Commonwealth leaders also expressed their strong support for the multilateral trading system and adopted a six-point connectivity agenda to boost trade and investment links.Other topics discussed included climate change, ...
Uttar Pradesh village still in dark age
A village in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district is yet to be electrified even after the country attained independence 70 years ago.There is no sign of hope for the villagers of Karela even after electricity poles were installed there 10 years ago. As soon as the sun sets, darkness engulfs the village.A local named Athar Singh told ANI, "The electricity poles were installed years back. I have gone to the councillor's office several times for providing electricity connection, but he paid no heed and said that he would look into the matter. On top of that, the authorities are forcing us to pay a bill ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000, when we don't have any electricity at all. This is unfair and wrong."Akash, a class 5 student, residing in the same village, said that he struggles to study properly in the evening.Explaining his problem, Akash said, "I find great difficulty in studying in the evening. We have a light, where the battery is charged by kerosene. The light works for three ...
Asian Palm Civet rescued from Agra airport
An Asian palm civet was rescued by Wildlife SOS team from the restroom of Agra airport, an official said today. The animal is currently under observation and will soon be released back into its natural habitat. "We believe the civet cat had wandered out of the neighbouring forest area, which is its natural habitat," said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS. "Rapid habitat encroachment and deforestation is beginning to redefine the boundaries between forest and urban areas," he said. The animal is also known as 'toddy cat' and it is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
NY to ban cars from Manhattan's Central Park
New York will soon ban cars from its beloved Central Park, the city's mayor announced today, citing a commitment to reducing pollution and "prioritising people over cars." Automobile traffic was already prohibited in the north of Manhattan's iconic green space, which will celebrate its 160th birthday next year. Vehicles could still circulate, however, on three concrete lanes in the south: West Drive, Terrace Drive and Center Drive. The traffic ban on those thruways will go into effect June 27, the day after the city's public schools close for the summer. The measure does not concern, however, four dedicated below-grade roads that cross the park's width and are separated from the rest of the park by walls. "Our parks are for people, not cars. For more than a century, cars have turned parts of the world's most iconic park into a highway," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in announcing the move. "Today we take it back." "We are prioritizing the safety and the health of the millions of parents,
Pollution in cities deeply influenced by emissions in surrounding areas
The focus in the fight against air pollution would be on implementation of city-specific action plans, the Environment Ministry today said, even as a consultation on a nationwide initiative zeroed in on the fact that pollution in cities was influenced by emissions from surrounding areas. During the two-day stakeholder consultation on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which ended today, it was pointed out that there was a need for "multi-city, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder coordination". In its presentation, the ministry emphasised that measures to address industrial pollution, vehicular pollution and road dust needed to be a part of city-specific plans being formulated with the help of the ministry and could not be integrated in the NCAP, which basically provided a broad roadmap to address the issue of air pollution. The stakeholder consultation also provided an opportunity to interact with international experts from Europe, United States, China, Brazil, Japan and World Bank .
Strong winds, rough seas along coasts of WB, Odisha: IMD
The Met department has warned of strong winds and rough seas along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, southern parts of the western coast and Lakshadweep tomorrow and advised fishermen not to venture out in the sea. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha were very likely to witness "strong winds speed occasionally reaching 40-50 kmph with moderate to rough sea conditions". "Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along and off these coasts," it said in its warning. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), in its warning, has said waves would be first experienced along the west coast of India and Lakshadweep by morning tomorrow. The INCOIS is an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and gives alerts on tsunami and sea surge. A trough is currently over east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and a cyclonic circulation is also over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and west Assam. There is also a cyclonic circulation ...
Progress in NHAI road projects will be reviewed on regular basis: Himachal CM
The Himachal government would regularly review the progress of all the four laning projects being executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure that the projects are completed within the stipulated time, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said. Reviewing the progress work on four laning of different sections of Kiratpur-Ner Chowk-Pandoh-Kullu-Manali and Parwanoo-Shimla roads with the officers of the NHAI here, Thakur said the government would provide wholehearted cooperation to the executing agencies. Since both these major highways had heavy flow of tourist vehicles, it must be ensured that the work was carried out in such a way that it caused minimum inconvenience to the tourists and general commuters. The chief minister stressed that the work should be carried out as per specifications and no compromise should be made on quality. Expressing concern over delay in preparation and approval of utility shifting estimates, he said the matter should be taken up ...
Agri-app to answer farmers' queries through live scientist
Using a new mobile application, soon to hit the market, farmers can now have their crop-related queries answered through a 'chatbot' and this does not work, by a live scientist.
Morocco, US sign three MoUs
Washington, April 20 (IANS/MAP) Three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of energy efficiency, trade promotion and financing of innovative projects have been signed between Morocco and the US at the 4th Morocco-US Trade Forum here.
